Abstract: This article briefly reviewed the history of intermittent catheterization, focusing on the types, size and characteristics of catheter, especially the improvement of materials and design in recent years in order to relieve patients' discomfort while catheterizing, and reduce incidence of complication. Incidence and common bacteria of urinary tract infections were related to the method of bladder management. Clean intermittent catheterization was acknowledged to be the safest and most effective method of bladder management. A large number of studies demonstrated that hydrophilic-coated catheter could reduce the injury to urinary tract, contributed to the decrease in urinary tract infections.

Key words: intermittent catheterization, catheter, urinary tract infections, spinal cord injury, review